Four days since The White House threatened marijuana consumers…

It has been a whirlwind since the White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer on Thursday indicated that the Trump administration may engage in “greater” efforts to enforce federal anti-marijuana laws in jurisdictions that have legalized and regulated its adult use.

In the last four days, NORML has helped to generate over 20,000 emails to members of Congress in to support HR 975, The Respect State Marijuana Laws Act, which would prevent federal agencies from enforcing prohibition in states that have changed their marijuana laws. In addition, over 5,000 individuals for the first time have also emailed their state elected officials via our Act page in support of various statewide legislative reforms.

While neither the White House nor the Department of Justice have yet to act on their threats, this trial balloon could be a prelude to aggressive action in the not so distant future. In the context of recent actions by the Department of Justice in regard to immigration enforcement and private prisons, it is within the realm of possibility that a full scale assault on marijuana users could be coming shortly.

Even if the Department of Justice does little more than send letters to elected officials in legal states declaring its intention to act, this alone will have a serious chilling effect on the implementation of statewide legalization laws. These are exactly the sort of tactics that our opponents in states like Maine and Massachusetts have sought for in order to justify delaying implementing the will of their voters.

We must be vigilant and pressure Congress to protect adult use marijuana states from undue federal interference.

…Proponents of marijuana prohibition have long alleged that experimentation with pot acts as a ‘gateway’ to the use and eventual abuse of other illicit substances. But the evidence does not support this claim.

In reality, permitting marijuana sales to be regulated by licensed, state-authorized distributors rather than by criminal entrepreneurs and pushers of various other illicit drugs results in fewer, not more, Americans abusing other, potentially more dangerous substances…

Trump’s Proposed Pot Crackdown Is Out Of Step With Voters, Including Many Republicans

…Rather than picking an unnecessary fight with the majority of American voters, including a significant portion of Trump’s own base, the administration should consider embracing common sense marijuana law reforms. Endorsing bipartisan legislation, HR 975: The Respect State Marijuana Laws Act,” would be a good place to start. In accordance with the electorate’s wishes, passage of the act would prevent the federal government from criminally prosecuting individuals or businesses that are engaging in state-sanctioned activities specific to the possession, use, production, and distribution of marijuana.

Despite more than 70 years of federal marijuana prohibition, Americans’ consumption of and demand for cannabis is here to stay. It is time for politicians to acknowledge this reality and amend federal marijuana laws in a manner that comports with majority public opinion and the plant’s rapidly changing legal and cultural status. The Trump administration has the opportunity to take the lead on this issue. It would be an enormous political misstep for them to do otherwise….

Additionally, the newly formed Cannabis Caucus put out a statement regarding last the announcement from Spicer:

“Today’s statement by White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer regarding marijuana policy reaffirms the need for the Congressional Cannabis Caucus. Last November, eight more states passed measures to increase access to state-legal cannabis, and today more than 300 million Americans live in states with access to adult-use marijuana or some form medical cannabis. Among them are four additional states that have fully legalized the adult-use of marijuana. We hope today’s comments do not reflect the views of the President and his administration. As co-chairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, we stand ready to educate this administration on the need for more sensible marijuana policies and share the many experiences states have had with the legalization of cannabis. Together, we will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to reform our failed marijuana policies and provide a voice for Americans who have overwhelmingly voted for a more sensible drug policy.”

It’s institutions like NORML, the Cannabis Caucus, and most importantly, your efforts as part of the democratic process that will prevent the rollback of progress in marijuana legalization. Don’t stop calling your members of Congress and getting involved locally. Do not accept this as a new normal. This is not normal. Smoking pot is NORML.

Trollin along aren’t we MSimon? Im gonna track you down over every bold faced lie you place on this website until you give up or the editors finally get sick of your bull$#!+.

President Obama signed the Cole memos that stopped the DOJ from stopping state marijuana legalization. NOT Drumph, not Trump, not your lies on a stump.
Trump, meanwhile, has passed executive orders to start a drug war and nominated Sessions to AG. I would tell you to go fuck yourself, but you take me as one of those creepy Britebart fucks that probably like that. So better yet, just go crawl under whatever bridge that your Gipetto masters sent you from because you are fooling no one here.

Did he watch Sessions address to this winters meeting of AG’s?
Did he listen to Trump’s address to Congress when he repeated the lie that “drugs are pouring in our borders like never before?”

I realize Kampia is trying to calm the waters as a representative of the marijuana industry. And here in Texas, NORML has been working closely with MPP to legalize marijuana, even though NORML represents more of a consumer advocacy group for marijuana reform. But saying Spicer’s attack was just a “lesson in civics,” and that “other legalization groups jumped to conclusions” is just a flat out lie.
Then he goes on to support the McClintock-Polis amendment without even mentioning HR 975 or The “Ending Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017” which would deschedule marijuana. Now I agree getting 6 or 7 more Republicans to sign on to the McClintock-Polis amendment is more realistic but it should be in conjunction with pushing HR 975 and the descheduling bill that protects states rights.
Though I consider MPP a staunch ally to our cause, yet Ive always reserved suspicions of MPP’s industry motivations to create a monopoly for certain investors. I wont let that keep me from working with them, but meeting dishonesty with more dishonesty doesnt help our cause.
I get that vocally opposing Trump provokes his pathological insecurities, but I agree with Keith Stroup; now might not be the best time to invest in a new commercial recreational marijuana business. Instead invest our resources into descheduling marijuana all together.
California may create a sanctuary state for recreational, as perhaps this Congress, no matter how we often we click on the Act tab, leaves us with no other choice.

If Dealing means lying and being a con artist youre gonna get whats comin to you you weasily prick. Just wait and see: A con like Trump throws everyone who supports him under the bus. Youre time is gonna come.
And you dont know me from Republican to Democrat so keep your judgements for your own judgement day. Im just about sick of your bull$#!+.

Editors, Ive been posting here on this website for almost every blog straight for the last 4 or 5 years. I sincerely enjoy the elevated conversations, your editing (thank you) and the variety of opinions, education and facts that have rolled across this blog. I have even enjoyed some opposing opinions, where even though we dont agree on everything, different people agree to take action, donate or sign a petition to the cause.
But never in my life have I read such a persistant liar and propagandist that refuses to acknowledge or respond to a simple fact than this MSimon. I believe in free speech, and I am not requesting you edit him, but we cannot engage in an elevated discussion about legalizing and reforming marijuana when we have trolling, persistant liars trying to push lies and propaganda.
Can you at least settle this for us? Obama signig the Cole memos was the “first support” of medical marijuana in the US? And Trump is willfully declaring a drug war through executive action and nomination of Jeff Sessions?

I personally want to help advocate for medical use. I’m a chronic pain patient and my life is passing by, I hate natcotics and they don’t help a lot, we have to get this barbaric cruel mentality to be a thing of the he past. I don’t have time to wait decades for laws to pass and nor do millions of suffering adults and children. Our pain is real our need is real and every day we live in horrible pain is one day too long.

Emily: I LOVED the Hunger Games. The books are 100x's better than the movie, but I still LOVED the movie, if that puts it into peeersctivp. Happy reading and hope you get to see the movie soon!! :)Jess: they sang it in our church as well, and I loved the lyrics. So powerful!